Rabbet

A rabbet

A rabbet (American English) or rebate (British English) is a recess or groove cut into the edge of a piece of machinable material, usually wood. When viewed in cross-section, a rabbet is two-sided and open to the edge or end of the surface into which it is cut.

An example of the use of a rabbet is in a glazing bar where it makes provision for the insertion of the pane of glass and putty. It may also accommodate the edge of the back panel of a cabinet. It is also used in door and casement window jambs, and for shiplap planking. A rabbet can be used to form a joint with another piece of wood (often containing a dado).

Rabbet joints are easy to construct and have good appeal to them. They are simple to use in carpentry based work but can be doubtful when it comes to the strength of the joint. Nails and screws can be added to help increase the overall strength.

Etymology[]

The word rabbet is from Old French rabbat, "a recess into a wall",^[1] and rabattre "to beat down".^[2] According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "In North America the more usual form is rabbet".^[3] The form "rebate" is often pronounced the same way as "rabbet".^[3]

Methods[]

A rabbet router using a straight or rebate bit
Rabbetting or rebate plane or a shoulder plane
Circular saw with multiple passes (depending on width and depth)
Dado set in a single pass
Spindle moulder
Hand saw and chisel
Jointer equipped with a rabbet ledge

References[]

^ Harper, Douglas. "rabbet, n". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
^ "rabbet". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
^ ^a ^b "rebate, n.2". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)